Mazda 5

Five That Put the "Mini" Back in Minivan

Mazda had no illusions for its tidy little 5, which is essentially a tall-roofed, three-row, six-seat version of its resoundingly successful Mazda 3 hatchback. No, when Mazda brought the 5 to the U.S. in 2005, it expected the fun little vanlet to be merely a niche player within a niche market segment. Indeed, Mazda PR folks claim to be as surprised as anyone that sales have jumped 30 percent from 2007 to 2008.

We’re not. With gas prices ever threatening to zoom-zoom skyward, the Mazda 5’s combination of four-cylinder efficiency, sparkling dynamics, seating for six, and bring-it-all practicality suddenly becomes appealing enough to overlook its sliding rear doors. Sliding doors, of course, make sense, as they allow parking in tight areas and provide easier entry and exit. A massively revised interior was installed for 2008, fixing most of the livability complaints aimed at earlier models. As such, the Mazda 5 has become an extraordinarily enjoyable little vehicle that puts maximum fun into a mini-minivan package.